Chennai: DMK chief M. Karunanidhi wore the gold ring – a gift that he had always treasured more than his life as he had received it from his mentor C. N. Annadurai; in his final resting place on Marina.

The Dravidian icon never parted with the golden gift since 1959, as Anna himself had placed it on his finger. The DMK had won the Chennai Corporation election and emerged as the single largest party then.

Recognising the efforts of Karunanidhi, Anna presented a signet ring to Karunanidhi at a grand function at Saidapet and lauded him for leading the party to victory. DMK won 45 seats and the party’s A. P. Arasu became DMK’s first Mayor of Chennai.

Even when he was undergoing treatment since 2016 at the Kauvery hospital, Karunanidhi never removed the ring. His close kin who appreciated and understood his love and affection for Anna, allowed Karunanidhi to wear the ring on his last journey on Wednesday. The DMK stalwart was laid to rest besides the Anna samadhi with full state honours.